Barack Obama

Obama Repudiates Clark's Assertions About McCain

By Juliet Eilperin
On a day focused on burnishing his credentials as a patriot, Sen. Barack Obama repudiated comments made by retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark over the weekend questioning the significance of Sen. John McCain's military record.

"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron," Clark had said on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday. "...I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."

Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton today said that Obama does not agree with that characterization. "As he's said many times before, Senator Obama honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and of course he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark," Burton said in a statement.

Asked about Clark's comments today during a press conference in Harrisburg, Pa., McCain dismissed them and said he had plenty of allies who could speak to his performance during the Vietnam War.

"I think that kind of thing is unnecessary," he said. "I'm proud of my record of service and I have plenty of friends and leaders who will attest to that."

He suggested that it represented a style of campaigning that would do little to help the average voter.

"If that's the kind of campaigning that Senator Obama and his surrogates and supporters want to wage, I understand that," McCain said. "It doesn't reduce the price of a gallon of gas by one penny... it doesn't help an Am stay in their home they're afraid of losing. I expect to discuss in this campaign the challenges we face."

When another reporter asked McCain what he thought of Obama's sense of patriotism, he did not answer the question directly but took pains to describe Obama as "a great American success story."

Clark, a longtime supporter and ally of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, and his name has been pushed by some Clinton supporters as a possible vice presidential running mate for Obama.

Today's dispute would seem to diminish his chances of being selected for that role.

So Obama defends the patriotism of McCain? Really? I heard Obama take advantage of the situation by equating Clarke's attack on McCain's heroism to the supposed whisper campaign being conducted against Barack.

Barack is just "wagging the dog" - creating an enemy to garner sympathy and misdirect attention from his true beliefs. Obama was a member of Rev. Wright's Trinity Union Church where every Sunday he and his wife brought their two little girls to listen to Wright say "KKK of America" and "Goddamn America".

Posted by: David | July 1, 2008 11:35 AM

Who are you going to trust?
As a legacy admission (admitted because of his father), Senator McCain finished number 894 out of 899 in his graduating class from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. 5th from the bottom of his class, and he admittedly didn't care! He was a rebellious hard-drinking hell raiser. This should remind you of Bush, except that Bush doesn't have a volatile temper like McCain does. Bush, as a pilot, never crashed three different military jets like McCain did, two of which were stateside, including one in Corpus Christi bay! He comes back and abandons his invalid wife (who to this day refuses to support his presidential aspirations). He cheats on his wife, marries an incredibly rich woman, with a drug problem, successfully gets elected as Senator as a POW/war hero, supports Keating, reforms by then repeatedly alienating and distancing himself from his republican senate colleagues, ingratiates himself with the liberal press because of the latter, abandons his maverick positions, actively solicits support from the religious right, and now expects us to make him our second stupid president in a row? All this in the middle of two wars and a recession?
Good luck with that

Posted by: Bob A | July 1, 2008 9:55 AM

Re: Juliet

I find your reporting biased--from the very first sentence.

Your job is to report what happened--not to analyze. Your last sentence is further conclusive.

This Section is for voters. Let voters have the full story and factual data from both camapaigns and let us decide.

Posted by: peace4world | July 1, 2008 9:25 AM

All this mock Republican outrage about Clark's comments is patently ridiculous. Clark's comments were not at all untoward, especially in the context of his discussion with the interviewer. But the most offensive thing to me, as a strong Obama supporter, is Obama's mamby pamby pandering denunciation. Obama's intelligence insulting response, effectively throwing Clark under the bus, significantly dropped his status in my eyes as a voter. If it wasn't so vitally important to me that the Democrats win in November, Obama would have just lost my vote. I am so very disappointed in him.

Posted by: TXDem | July 1, 2008 8:37 AM

Obama will be the next president of the United States of America!

Posted by: Don | July 1, 2008 8:36 AM

Clark is one of Obama's hound dogs. Bark and roll over when his master tells him to.

Posted by: Jesse | July 1, 2008 1:22 AM

Read the news. Kerry won't be a senator after his current term ends. Good riddance.

Posted by: Jerry | July 1, 2008 12:04 AM

think about this
the members of the swift boaters that smeared Kerry are now heading Mcain's truth squad. Coincidence.
Mcain youdont fool me.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2008 11:38 PM

Truely being a navy pilot is not an automatic qualification for president.
But is it really true that McCain crashed like five planes. I didn't see John Warner or all these people shouting from the rroftops when Kerry was being smeared. At least Kerry led real people to war, saw them bleed and die. It's the same attitude pilots have, they look down on others, as if the Navy revolves around them. Mccain shuld release his complete military service record if he has nothingto hide.

Posted by: DJ | June 30, 2008 11:25 PM

I hope that all of us that can will do our best to help Hillary Clinton pay off ALL of her campaign debt quickly. She deserves that. You all knew Hillary, and Bill would go out on a limb for us if they felt they had too. That's what they do. :-) As I said before Hillary Clinton was STUNNING!!!

You witnessed the greatest political campaign struggle in American history. One for the textbooks, and the history books. Hillary Clinton fought her heart out against all odds to win for all of the American people. While at the same time doing her best to prepare Sen. Barack Obama to win in November if he was the nominee. STUNNING!!! WELL DONE HILLARY CLINTON. WELL DONE! Your AMAZING! :-)

Sen. Obama could not have had a better opponent than Hillary Clinton. Nor could he have had a better opponent to prepare him for the battle royal to come against John McCain and the Republicans ahead of the November elections. Hillary Clinton was like a big Mama cat determined to teach her kitten how to hunt, and hang with the big dogs for the fights ahead. The Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it will take.

Hillary Clinton took Sen. Obama to every brawl, and cat fight she could find for him to develop his fight, and his chops. She even let her men (President Clinton, Governor Rendell, and many others) loose on Sen. Obama a little bit. So as to give Sen. Obama a taste of just how rough, and tough the big boys will be to do battle with. :-)

From sea to shining sea and US territories Hillary Clinton took Sen. Obama to see all of America. To meet, and greet all it's people. And to ask for their votes and support, which he will need if he becomes President. She took him to see what he will be fighting for. And to see what she and President Clinton have fought so heroically for over so many years. Sen. Obama could not have ask for any better. Nor had any better teachers.

Bill Clinton, Chelsea, Mrs. Rodham, and the whole Clinton team were magnificent. They really showed their metal. BRAVO! TEAM CLINTON... BRAVO!

And YOU! my fellow Americans. I'm so proud of you. And proud to be one of you. You showed what you are made of. And what makes America so great. You never gave up on your Champion Hillary Clinton. Time, and time again you eagerly waited your turn to vote for Hillary Clinton. To raise her up and pass her along down the line to the rest of your waiting fellow Americans.

You never gave up on her. Just as Hillary Clinton never gave up on you. No matter how many times they counted her out. No matter how many times her detractors, and attackers brutally knocked her down. You knew she would get back up and get after it. And when she did you were ready to support her. This is your role model America. AMERICA LOVES A FIGHTER. AMERICA UNDERSTANDS A FIGHTER. AMERICA IS A FIGHTER. I'M PROUD OF YOU AMERICA!

Sen. Clinton looked a little tired her first day back at work in the senate after her history making heroic campaign. She has good reason to be tired. Doesn't she America. But with time and good attention to the basics she, and you will recover. The basics are good well balanced nutrition, hydration, rest, exercise, recreation, POSITIVE! emotional support, and time (the greatest healer of all).

Y'all be good to President Clinton. I never saw a man fight so hard for a woman, and the American people as President Clinton fought for Hillary Clinton, and you. It's going to take Bill a while. No one except Hillary Clinton could have fought any harder than President Clinton did for you.

I imagine President Clinton still remembers how the American people wailed, reached, and cried out for him as he took that last flight home as your President on Air Force One after the 2000 elections. Yes, many of us knew back then what was coming for the American people under a republican administration. Back to living like dumb animals again. Fighting over territory, and scraps of meat. You are dieing like fly's now. Republicans too. But it's ok because some people are making a lot of money off of your needless deaths. :-(

As always, Hillary Clinton, and President Clinton did their best for all of us. It was an EPIC!

YOU MADE US VERY PROUD HILLARY CLINTON! HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH :-)

WE LOVE YOU. AND ADMIRE YOU...

jacksmith... Working Class :-)

Posted by: jacksmith | June 30, 2008 10:20 PM

Hooray J Lambert! McCain needs a little interrogation NOW!

This comes from an interrogator, too. For many years.

McCain has more skeletons than Obama, as both conservatives and liberals who do their homework should know!

Posted by: expat2mex | June 30, 2008 9:40 PM

Time and time again, Wes Clark has displayed very poor judgement. This flap is the latest manifestation.

Never elected to public office, he is a political animal who does all he can to keep his name and face in the public eye. Interestingly, in person he is rather small in physical stature.

Now, THAT'S the FUNNIEST quote of the day!!! Congratulations, you B DA WINNER!

Posted by: kentree | June 30, 2008 8:20 PM

Obama supporters respect McCain's honorable service to our country.

Senator Obama has NEVER failed, in all the times I have heard him refer to his opponent, to make a special point that John McCain is an American hero and we honor his service.

Posted by: Fairfax Voter | June 30, 2008 7:56 PM

Obama supporters respect McCain's honorable service to our country.

But when John McCain says that he sees victory in Iraq in 5 years if he is President by continuing the Bush/Cheney policy on Iraq that is anther story. We already have over 29,978 US wounded, anther over 2000 UK wounded. Over 4178 US Military deaths, over 176 UK. You never see it in the media but their is anther 40,000 of our veterans and troops with Post Traumatic Stress.

Now McCain says its all about the US causalities. Because of modern medical advancements more of our troops are surviving and returning home wounded.

Obama will work with our allies and listen to the people that count so this mess is cleaned up and our troops can come home safely and a war like this can't happen again in our lifetime perhaps our grand kids lifetime.

This is going to be anther very close election. We all have hopes for Obama in Nov. But hes going to need all the help he can get. That Republican attack machine is getting really nasty.

Come Nov We can wake up to a beautiful morning with Barack Obama in the White House and the McCain/Bush/Cheney nightmare over. America deserves this.

General Wesley Clark's blunt assessment of how John McCain's military service enhanced his presidential qualifications provides some much needed perspective to counter the assumptions that we presented with every day.

The only people who are 'shocked' by these the General's comments are politicians and media personalities that are too busy exchanging common assumptions and ideas to spend very much time thinking for themselves.

John McCain flew 23 combat missions (an estimated 20-25 hours over enemy territory). The U.S. Navy awarded McCain III, the son of an admiral, a Silver Star, a Legion of Merit for Valor, a Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, two Commendation medals plus two Purple Hearts and a dozen service medals.

On John McCain's 23rd mission over North Vietnam his plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile. McCain ejected from the plane breaking both arms and a leg in the process and subsequently parachuted into Truc Bach Lake near Hanoi. After being pulled from the lake by the North Vietnamese, McCain was bayoneted in his left foot and shoulder and struck by a rifle butt. He was then transported to the Hoa Lo Prison, also known as the Hanoi Hilton.

On McCain's fourth day of being denied medical treatment, slapped, and threatened with
death by his captors. They were demanding military information in exchange for medical
treatment. McCain broke and told his interrogator,"O.K., I'll give you military information if you will take me to the hospital.", as reported by McCain in the U.S. News and World Report, May 14, 1973 article that he authored.

It was then that the communist learned that McCain III's father was Admiral John S. McCain, the soon-to-be commander of all U.S. Forces in the Pacific. The Vietnamese rushed McCain III to Gai Lam military hospital (U.S. government documents), a medical facility normally off-limits to U.S. POW. By Nov. 9, 1967 (U.S. government documents) Hanoi press was quoting McCain III describing his mission including the number of aircraft in his flight, information about rescue ships, and the order of which U.S. attacks would take place. While in still in North Vietnam's military hospital, McCain III gave an interview to prominent French television reporter Francois Chalais for a series titled Life in Hanoi. Chalais' interview with McCain III was aired in Europe. Vietnamese doctors operated on McCain's leg in early December, 1967. Six weeks after he was shot down, McCain was taken from the hospital and delivered to a U.S. POW camp, In May of 1968, McCain III allowed himself to be interviewed by two North Vietnamese generals at separate times.", as reported in May 14, 1973 by former POW John McCain.

On June 5, 1969, the New York Daily News reported in a article headlined "Reds Say POW Songbird Is Pilot Son of Admiral, " . . . Hanoi has aired a broadcast in which the pilot son of United States Commander in the Pacific, Adm. John McCain, purportedly admits to having bombed civilian targets in North Vietnam and praises medical treatment he has received since being taken prisoner . . ."

In 1970, McCain III agreed to an interview with Dr. Fernando Barral, a Spanish psychiatrist who was living in Cuba at the time. The meeting between Barral and McCain III (which was photographed by the Vietnamese) During the meeting, POW McCain sipped coffee and ate oranges and cakes with the Cuban. The interview was published in the in January 1970.

Many other captured soldiers and airmen preferred death to providing less aid to the enemy than John McCain. His collaboration can be understood, but not excused, as the reaction of a privileged young man to very harsh treatment, who owed his captors his life.

Did he come through his trials of war and imprisonment with values fortified and ready to make the right decisions for America?

Many of us with a bit of a memory, remember how John McCain acquitted himself when the Savings and Loan scandal put his friends and family at risk. Did he do the right thing for all Americans or his best to protect himself?

So, don't judge General Wesley Clark too harshly. He is thinking for himself. His friends in the Obama campaign should not mindlessly reject General Clark's opinions. General Clark is not Rev. Wright. Obama must understand and accept a diversity of opinions from well-meaning, supportive, experienced public servants.

Posted by: J Lambert | June 30, 2008 7:27 PM

well at least mccain didn't finished last!

Posted by: don | June 30, 2008 7:04 PM

Most Army cooks got more valuable experience than McCain got out of his military "career".

Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2008 6:53 PM

Clarke is correct..

Simply being shot down and being a war vet does not qualify you for CIC. Nor should it ever.

I am not sure when America got on this war hero kick, but it's time has passed.

Hell, McCain graduated at the bottom of his MILITARY CLASS... How many of you hire from the bottom of the deck?

I'm just asking..

Posted by: Vance | June 30, 2008 6:50 PM

Beware of websites listed in this comment section.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2008 6:48 PM

visit

womenforfairpolitics.com

Posted by: JJ | June 30, 2008 6:41 PM

Everything Clark said was true. He was simoly responding to a stupid remark by Schieffer, which suggested that sinly flying a plane and being shot down made McCain more qualified to be President.

"CBS moderator Bob Schieffer cited Clark's earlier remarks and noted that Obama hadn't had those experiences either nor had he ridden in a fighter plane and been shot down. "Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president," Clark replied."

Clark has nothing to apologize for and the over-the-top reaction by McCain's supporters is laughable.

Posted by: bgjd1979 | June 30, 2008 6:25 PM

Concur - Clark is an idiot

Posted by: Retired USMC Officer | June 30, 2008 6:17 PM

Here's what I would have hoped McCain's experience would have taught him:
Having been tortured, he might have learned the futility and inhumanity of it. Having received the best medical attention in the world for his wounds, he might have vowed to build 500 Walter Reeds. Having received a marvelous education at total taxpayer expense that enabled him to rise in an honorable career before even serving one day, he might have voted to provide the same opportunity to those who have already served far too many days. Having been stung in the S&L scandal, he might have shown more outrage at the current crooked lenders. Having called out Falwell and Robertson, he might have thought twice about embracing Hagee. Having seen the face of war, he might be less eager to ask others to enter that terrible presence. Having been faulted for temper, he might be more admiring of someone with a measured expression. And finally, having won a reputation for straight talk--a high honor indeed--he might not have sold it so cheaply.

Posted by: mmfleming1 | June 30, 2008 5:56 PM

Who are you going to trust?
As a legacy admission (admitted because of his father), Senator McCain finished number 894 out of 899 in his graduating class from the Naval Academy in Annapolis. 5th from the bottom of his class, and he admittedly didn't care! He was a rebellious hard-drinking hell raiser. This should remind you of Bush, except that Bush doesn't have a volatile temper like McCain does. Bush, as a pilot, never crashed three different military jets like McCain did, two of which were stateside, including one in Corpus Christi bay! He comes back and abandons his invalid wife (who to this day refuses to support his presidential aspirations). He cheats on his wife, marries an incredibly rich woman, with a drug problem, successfully gets elected as Senator as a POW/war hero, supports Keating, reforms by then repeatedly alienating and distancing himself from his republican senate colleagues, ingratiates himself with the liberal press because of the latter, abandons his maverick positions, actively solicits support from the religious right, and now expects us to make him our second stupid president in a row? All this in the middle of two wars and a recession?
Good luck with that

Posted by: Bob A | June 30, 2008 5:36 PM

To those belittling McCains Military Service:

It is a point in his favor, and not that Obama gets a negative point. What do you want from McCain, an apology?

Posted by: Billw | June 30, 2008 5:27 PM

Wesley Clark is trash. Many in Obama's campaign are monsters. Obama is their mouth piece.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2008 5:17 PM

Bob Dole calls Clark's questioning of McCain's military qualifications to serve as Commander in Chief as beyond his comprehension. McCain's "achievement and experience constitute unparalleled qualification for America's highest office."

Dole made a big sacrifice himself, and voters thanked him for it. Many thought he should be thanked more by being chosen President.

But it would be useful to share Dole's account of how McCain's achievement and experience are unparalleled. (Of course every individual is unique.)

Posted by: FirstMouse | June 30, 2008 5:10 PM

First to Daddio on the paddio

Below is a few lines from Obama's books in his own words. This is in response to researching something.

From Dreams of My Father: 'I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites.'
From Dreams of My Father : 'I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother's race.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names.'
From Dreams of My Father: 'I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa , that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself , the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela.'

And FINALLY the Most Damming one of ALL of them!!!

From Audacity of Hope: 'I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.'

Is this the man you want for president???

Next To: JDB

Regarding McCain's service record should not be looked at for qualifying him for president.

Well Wes Clark speaking on behalf of John Kerry in the 2004 elections emphasized his (Kerry's) war record and stated that this was one of the reasons he (Clark) thought that John Kerry would make a great president.

This is another incident of double standards used by the democratic party. Especially now that the comment was made and Obama camp now comes out and distances themselves from the statement.

This is like a trial where the defense attorney makes a statement he shouldn't have made and the judge informs the jurors to disregard the statement. SURE ! it's already out there and that's Obamas tactic.

Posted by: pacopaco | June 30, 2008 4:59 PM

Soliders are trained to NOT THINK, and ACT BASED ON TRAINING.

McCain is not a thinker. He makes rash decisions. McCain is not a good leader, he is a follower....and Karl Rove is his new master.

Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2008 4:54 PM

Clark was correct. Just not politically correct. McCain was reckless,brash, and it showed because he crashed at least three aircraft while training. He was hard charging hard drinking and a maverick, he did not care what others thought. These are not qualifications to be President. It doesn`t mean that it demeans his service to tell it like it is.

Posted by: eSPO | June 30, 2008 4:50 PM

To: 1971-2008

1. Karl Rove is a senior advisor to McCain.

2. McCain listens to Karl Rove, as McCain's brain is even smaller than Bush's.

3. McCain is so controlled by Rove, that he is even willing to Flip Flop on issues he's supported his hole political life.

4. McCain has already stated he plans to follow the "SwiftBoat Plan" in the last 48 hours of the campaign.

5. Bush did not "SwiftBoat" McCain - LOL

Posted by: Marshall | June 30, 2008 4:46 PM

I don't agree with Senator Obama on this. John McCain doesn't deserve any help. I agree strongly with General Clarkes statements about McCain being shot down and a POW as not being qualifications for the Presidency.

As much as the press loves to defend Senator McCain, The Sham character, who they created, that really doesn't exist.

Why would Obama come to his defense? I won't defend him. He isn't some patron saint who deserves homage....Senator John McCain is nothing more than (Bush McSame 3).

My friends I challenge any of you to do the due diligence when it comes to John McCain. Most have not.

Look at John Mccain's record.

Go to sites like, factcheck.org, or www.bravenewfilms.org, or www.latimes.org, www.youtube.com/waton?v=ity9onf2anl. Go and buy "Free ride" John McCain and the Media, by David Brock and Paul Waldman.

Whatever you do, please do yourselves a favor and don't just buy the lies of the Press and John McCain about who he is suppose to be. The press has created a Lie. McCain is not STALWART. He has flipped and flopped on more occasions than a fish out of water.

Senator Obama was justified in his critique of John McCain backing out of an immigration reform bill he co-authored with Senator Kennedy. He backed out of something he 'CO-AUTHORED'. THINK ABOUT THAT.

When he knew it would stand in the way of getting him the Republican Nod he backed down. Is that HEROISM? Is that PATRIOTISM? Is that as John McCain once said, when speaking about pulling out of Iraq, " I WILL ABSOLUTELY NOT ACCEPT DEFEAT.." To the cheering and clapping of many deceived Rebushagain party supporters, BACKBONE?

No, that is absolute political expediency and COWARDICE!!! He literally stabbed the Latino voting constituency, and Senator Kennedy in the back. Is that the kind of "crossing of party lines.." we need?

McCain, the REAL MCCAIN, is (against) a woman's right to choose, is (for)eternalizing the Bush tax -cuts to the WEALTHIEST, is (for) an EXTENDED STAY (100+) YEARS in Iraq, (doesn't) care when or if the troops come home, is (against) the WINDFALLS PROFIT TAX of these oil companies who have made BILLIONS in profits as we Americans and Europeans suffer at the gas pumps, (isn't) even trusted by the Religious Right, his parties LOYALIST constituency, (is) for the 'not so new' lie by the Bush Administration that we need to attack Iran, 'because they are building the capability to create WMD's.

That's a cover up. Bush and this administration are using these wars in the Middle East to refurbish our treasury, which they have nearly emptied. Why do you think it is of importance that Bush attacks Iran regardless of intelligence that PROVES Iran is not using plutonium to create nuclear weapons???Iran is an Oil Rich Country Bush desires to bleed....Listen to the reports we are just getting about Bush beginning to reward oil contracts too theses rich oil companies for Iraq's untapped reservoirs. WE ARE IN DEBT....TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEBT. WE ARE IN DEBT TO CHIMNA...WHY DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICANS ARE FOR OUT-SOURCING??? They call it, 'A new Global Economy'.

Another created phrase to cover up the fact that soon, our nation will not be able cash the checks it now writes with these failing policies. so they can get us to continue to vote ourselves UNDER, SELL OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OUT of their GOD-GIVEN heritage. Prosperity and peace.

China has a middle classof 300 million, while our middle class shrinks daily. 300 million, that's about as much as our current population.

So many of our corporations send jobs to China and build plants in China. Why? because the republican party is into cover our A--es, so our policy in China and North Korea has suddenly become soft.

China along with Japan, and undisclosed other nations are funding our war efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, and not too soon in the future, Iran.

This is the real reason the Republican party is (for) OUT-SOURCING and the failed policies such as NAFTA, and even this new COLUMBIAN trade policy. McCain ENERGETICALLY (supports) ALL OF THIS. He has voted with Bush 95% of the time just this year...

Our nation under Bush/Cheney and the Republican Party is slowly becoming what we in the past, and now hypocritically accuse other ROGUE nations of. We are becoming as Russia was when they attacked Afghanistan.

This Administration is USING our military Might to perpetrate WAR-CRIMES. Senator McCain STRENOUSLY AND ENERGETICALLY (supports) these ROGUE efforts of this Administration.

Don't buy into the media's 'drunken invention' of John McCain , 'war hero'. being a POW doesn't constitute Heroism, or as General Wesley Clarke so brilliantly put it yesterday, 'experience in diplomacy'. Getting shot down isn't a fulfillment of qualification for President. Truthfulness and honesty are.

John McCain, when he could've been released from captivity, refused to be released. Yet, he hold's it against the Vietnamese. Some would argue this was a selfless act of Heroism, a protest not to give up, an argument of, 'I'd rather die than give up in defeat..' Psychaiatry argues that the lack of the desire for self-preservation is a type of INSANITY.

This wasn't heroism it was a sign of PTSD. In a mad PSYCHOTIC state of mind this fool stayed a prisoner in Vietnam, probably in protest that we wouldn't continue our war effort there.. It reminds me of his recent yet, media overlooked and under emphasized, diatribes about staying in Iraq 100+ years, and him drunkenly singing in a town hall mtg, 'bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran."

Why is it that the media seems to think they are indebted to defend McCain at the slightest critique, everytime it is pointed out that he is too OLD, or not who THEY or HE says he is? If the McCain that the media tries to paint as 'solid, praiseworthy, a man of 'august reputation', 'HERO' etc....Really existed, it would be TRUTH.

'THE TRUTH NEEDS NO DEFENSE'

It can stand on it's own. So obviously, the Media's McCain isn't REAL.

Posted by: need4trth. | June 30, 2008 4:37 PM

In the context of the day and of the Obama campaign, General Clark's comments were not helpful to the extent that they have been interpreted as a prelude to Swift Boating. However, as a straightforward analysis, they are dead on. McCain deserves enormous respect and the thanks of a grateful nation for his personal service and sacrifice. That doesn't disqualify anyone from looking at that experience objectively, however. McCain graduated at the low end of his class, never led troops in combat on the ground, in the air or on the sea. He never wrote, executed or co-ordinated a battle plan involving more than one airplane. His highest command was a training squadron in Florida. Most telling, the Navy believed he qualified for promotion to Admiral based on his work as a Pentagon liaison (read lobbyist) to the Congress, for which he received several awards. There is no doubt that based on his experience, McCain understands the US military paradigm better than all but a handful of senators. But you know what? Cheney had Secretary of Defense on his resume and few now think it qualified him in the way many thought it might: understanding that unleashing war should be the last resort. McCain's record deserves respect but not an off limits sign.

Posted by: mmfleming1 | June 30, 2008 4:37 PM

Gen Clark is correct. McCain is all show and no substance.

McCain was a failure in the military, and now as a reward, he gets to lead the nation?!? I think not. He was one of the dumbest students in his class, one of the worst soliders, and can't even manage his own temper.

Bush lowered the bar for Republicans about as far as it could go, and yet McCain still doesn't pass the test. It's a sad time in america, that this torturer is even going to be on the ticket.

Posted by: MilitaryMan | June 30, 2008 4:36 PM

I AGREE WITH WESLEY CLARK BECAUSE MCCAIN THINKS BEING SHOT DOWN OVER NORTH VIETNAM IS A STRONG RESUME FOR BEING PRESIDENT. SENATOR MCCAIN IS STILL MENTALLY IN THE HANOI HILTON IN NORTH VIETNAM.

Posted by: OD | June 30, 2008 4:31 PM

Wesley Clark's comments were on the relevance of McCain military experiences to presidential decision making; they were not aspersions on McCain's patriotism. Why the insistence on interpreting them in the latter way? Clark has brought up a legitimate question. Does a young man's bravery and courage in war necessarily prepare him to make the high-level strategic assessments and decisions required of a president? I fail to see why this should be accepted as given. We need a debate on this issue.

Posted by: Esther Weil | June 30, 2008 4:24 PM

LTC US Army:
" McCain's service as a Navy aviator and POW do not make him qualified based on those experiences to be President of the United States "

Of course not, but it's a point in his favor. Dicipline, endurance, patriotism, sacrifice, and all that you know.

Posted by: Billw | June 30, 2008 4:20 PM

See the faces of those soldiers who lost their "best buddy" a few moments ago. Fighting and dying in a war that just did not have to happen all was done on the Bush watch. McCain stood by and approved and walked the party line.

At no time in the history of this country has one president done so much damage to the memory of those who served for the phrase,..duty..honor..country.

McCain is what we really don't want. McCain's service as a Navy aviator and POW do not make him qualified based on those experiences to be President of the United States; certainly McCain's character is represented in those experiences, but to bring the presence of mind representing the people of America..let the issues of today mark the men...whether it be Obama or McCain.

Posted by: LTC US Army | June 30, 2008 4:04 PM

So,once again we see cowardly Dirty Chicago
Gutter Politics Barack Hussein Obama right
back into using his surrogates like this
loser trouble make General Wesley Clark,
a failed former Presidential Candidate
and disgrace former NaTO Commander to smear
Sen John McCain so Obama can keep his hands
clean while his stooges like Clark do Obama
dirty work and that is what Obama pulled on
Hillary Clinton and every election this
pathetic lying coward punk lying drug addict fraud Barack Hussein Obama has ever
run in,since day one. Vote No Barack Obama!

Posted by: Ralphinphnx | June 30, 2008 4:02 PM

1971-2008,

Well that is the problem with McCain isnt it? No one knows what he really stands for. He was against tax cuts till he started running for president, he as for immigration reform before he started running for president, he was against drilling before he started running for president. Then you get to agents of intolerance and swift boaters, he was against them, but now that he is running for president they are parts of his campaign.

You may make McCain out to be the McCain of 2000, but everything that differentiated him from Bush has been dropped, and its really an appropriate criticism that he is running for Bush's 3rd term. Karl Rove, Swift Boaters and all.

Posted by: Julian | June 30, 2008 3:57 PM

Julian,

You've got a thing or two to learn if you really think Carl Rove has John McCain's ear.

Can he call up and offer assistance, yeah, he'd likely do that. But he's not pulling the puppet strings like he did the last two cycles. Please remember the history between the two camps going back to when Bush 'swiftboated' McCain in 2000. Sen. McCain will bite his tongue in this case to get the party support, but he's not going to sell the farm to them.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:51 PM

Folks, take a deep breath.

Failing a scandal, Obama is winning in 2008. If the Republicans thought they could win they would have run Jeb. The Bush people don't really like McCain. And the good Senator has shot himself in the foot so much over the past 20 years that he can only now limp for President.

This is a guy who was knee deep in the Savings and Loan Scandal. A guy who tried to whitewash his Keating Five past by sanctimoniously championing campaign finance reform. Reform that the Bush people opposed. And after putting the coke thing around, McCain can't tap the Bush network for money or support.

His amnesty policy depressed his base and their anticipated turnout. And if he picks the Mormon Mitt Romney it'll be another politically tone deaf move. The Republicans have conditioned their evangelicals to be narrow-minded racists. And they don't like illegals or Mormons.

McCain is running the worst campaign I have ever seen. Rove can talk country club bs all he wants. Black can try to re-run Helms v. Gantt. Doesn't matter. McCain's campaign lacks a coherent theme and any real base of support. The people he pissed off (Perot et al) are going to hit him with a lot of friendly fire. And the people who are appalled at his incoherence (George Will et al) are going to take him down, from the inside.

This Clark thing is small potatoes.

Posted by: JR, Boston | June 30, 2008 3:49 PM

Julian,

Karl Rove? Wow. You're not really looking into the race are you. Facts be damned, you're just going to believe what you want to believe, or whatever nut-job blog you're reading is telling you.

Good luck.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:40 PM

Thanks for the insults but Karl Rove is an adviser to McCain, as is some of the the people from the Swift boat pac.

So Maybe you should get your facts straight.

Posted by: Julian | June 30, 2008 3:44 PM

Points to Daddio for trying to be sane.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:41 PM

Julian,

Karl Rove? Wow. You're not really looking into the race are you. Facts be damned, you're just going to believe what you want to believe, or whatever nut-job blog you're reading is telling you.

Good luck.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:40 PM

"This still has the potential to be a good presidential race but such views aren't going to help it, and further polarize the federal government."

1971-2008,

No I don't think so McCains, and Bush's comments on Israel and Iran, prove they are going to play on racial fears.

John McCains lines that Obama isn't qualified to be president also solidify his lack of ability to argue on issues.

McCain/Bush policies jeopardize the future of our country. This man is a sleazy opportunist, who left his first wife and married his second for political convenience. Its the future of our country on the line. So I don't think we can afford to let McCains fake media created persona stand. His story might make you feel good, but this election is about our country not making victim McCain feel glory.

I'm happy to debate issues, but if John McCain and his adviser Karl Rove want to make this about personality, we can argue about John McCain the adulterer too.

Posted by: Julian | June 30, 2008 3:36 PM

JDB:
"Why would his military service and pow stature qualify him to be president? "

So when did McCain say it qualified him?

Posted by: Billw | June 30, 2008 3:33 PM

WAKE UP EVERYONE. Both Obama and McCain are good Americans. Both are smart, both are 100% for this country. Stop the BS and look at what each is saying - not at what some stupid fool is writing about them behind their backs! Believing something because you want to believe it - it the sign of a true idiot. Believe something after you've researched it...and a blog on the Net ain't the best place to do that.

READ and COMPREHEND. Please - our Country depends on it!

Posted by: Daddio on the Paddio | June 30, 2008 3:32 PM

Gobama,

Your argument is junk, and is a serious flaw in making assumptions.

I am not a white male.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:32 PM

Considering Obama's shady background, it could be he has his surrogate knock McCain, then condemns the remark to look clean as a whistle himself. In fact I would not bet against it.

Posted by: Billw | June 30, 2008 3:30 PM

There's been a real double standard in this campaign. Every pore of obama's being has been examined and re-examined - while mccain "misspeaks" and flip flops on many of the primary issues - but all this is neglected by the media. I think Wes Clark was spot on in his questioning of McCain. His service is not in question - it's the implied pertinence that is not accurate. Why would his military service and pow stature qualify him to be president? I don't see the correlation - maybe he should spell it all out for us. No, John McCain is not beyond reproach. He needs to release his FULL military records, not the dribble he let loose. McCain is using his service as a smokescreen to hide his obvious deficiencies.

Posted by: JDB | June 30, 2008 3:30 PM

Obama-Junkie,

I thought Sen. Obama was going to bring a new type of politics. He hasn't, he never has. He brings the politics he learned, that on the streets of Chicago.

He talks about reaching across the aisle, but he hasn't yet. He's got a small handful of tricks and is capitalizing on the warranted distrust and dislike of the Bush administration.

Posted by: Pot/Kettle v2.0 | June 30, 2008 3:29 PM

1971-2008,

Your ignorance is ridiculous. Imagine if you were on trial for murder. Is your defense going to be, I didn't murder this person, so I'm not going to say anything at all?
Lets look at the conversation. Your refusal to vote for Obama is influenced by your racist upbringing and your fear of black males. As a white male, you are in the power structure. A change in the status quo, in this came, Barack as president upsets your status quo. You are doing everything in your power to keep white people in power, and black people out of power. You are a racist, and you had no defense.
I never said that blacks and hispanic are not in the army. But whose leading them, white officers. White officers like John McCain who parades around his war experience. And its not "sacrifice", its murder, if there's any sacrifice involved its the slaughter of non-whites so whites get the gold, god, and glory. Its ridiculous how we give medals for this kind of behavior.
And you invoke a typical neo-con strategy by not refuting an accustation and throwing the accusation right back.
You seriously have some flawed thinking buddy and maybe its time to wake-up to the real-world. Don't believe everything Fox News is telling you.

Posted by: Gobama | June 30, 2008 3:28 PM

Julian,

Admiral. Sen. McCain's father was an admiral, so was his grandfather. Navy, boats, water....admiral.

Someone who's been in war, has the respect for the horror of it all. Unlike our present President. We're in the mess now because of the underestimation of what war is.

And please remember that the military action he supported in the 1990's was to support President Clinton's effort to stop the genocide in Kosovo. A bipartisan effort to help people in need. That's a great example of the good the military can do, and the good that reaching across the aisle can do.

You may not like him on some efforts, but please don't judge people on a pure binary black and white basis.

This still has the potential to be a good presidential race but such views aren't going to help it, and further polarize the federal government.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:23 PM

Dear Sick of Obama,

The American people have been victimized by the policies of George Bush. It must be nice having no shame in admitting you voted for the worst president in modern history twice though. People died for your right to vote, it is said that you exercise it so poorly.

Posted by: Julian | June 30, 2008 3:22 PM

IMAGINE IF JOHN MCCAIN WAS BLACK.

He wouldn't stand a chance in this election. He wouldn't be the nominee.

White privilege, eh?

Posted by: Politics of Change | June 30, 2008 3:20 PM

Gobama,

I don't say anything that is racist, therefore, I shouldn't muster up evidence that I'm not. I don't like a candidate his name is Sen. Obama.....therefore I don't like black people? Insane.

I also didn't like two candidates in 2004, Pres. Bush, and Sen. Kerry, or in 2000 Bush, and VP Gore.....therefore I don't like white people?

You still don't accept the fact that it's not white people in the army, there are just as many hispanics and blacks that are paid the same and are asked to make the same sacrifices. Who's the racist?

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 3:17 PM

1971-2008,

First off McCain got special treatment because his daddy was a general, so one thing he learned is that he shoudl get special treatment.

Second I think it is pretty clear that McCain has a romantic view of war as building character. After all being shot down made his career. If you look at his history, he has never meet a war he didn't support. This man is all war all the time. If he gets elected you can count on war with Iran. So look at his history if we want to be a country of war, we can vote for McCain.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Um folks.
1. Being an officer means you're taught in how to lead.
2. Yes, based on flying an attack plane 40 years ago does not automatically qualify you for President. But having the training that puts you in that seat and the stresses and grueling activities does lay a solid foundation. You'd think "Being at the pointy end of the sword" should also give some weight to understanding what the President is actually making people do.

Not making the tough calls? How about sitting in the seat of that A-4 over Hanoi with hostile fire, but still managing the fateful decision to head into danger? And once again, one campaign that doesn't have a shred of executive experience really shouldn't be throwing stones at the other.

I just don't see the controversy here. Read the full transcript. Clark simply was differentiating between executive military experience and the McCain's experience as a POW. To put it his comments in simple terms: being in a car crash does not qualify you to race cars.

I personally believe that McCain showed enormous and admirable mental and physical strength as a POW. I honor and appreciate his sacrifice. I do think that this experience would help him as a president to understand the real costs of war.

And yet, it does not necessarily help his decision making skills, his understanding of tactics, strategy or diplomacy. Being a POW might make him a better man, but it does not necessarily make him a better leader.

I think the record is quite clear, that over the last 3 decades McCain has rarely been among the leading voices or decision makers on foreign policy or defense policy. His primary legacy over the last 3 decades has been campaign finance reform. Being a POW did not transform McCain into a Sam Nunn or a Richard Luger.

Posted by: Cornfields | June 30, 2008 3:16 PM

TEXDEM is right and wrong. BE nice if the Media would just shut up and let people chose a candidate based on facts. But some people are drinking Obama Kool-aid this year payed for and bought by most of the media. Obama wants to be known as a strong leader and uniter, but he isn't, and he better stop running to be our victim in chief. A victim of Bush's polices, A victim of his church, A victim of his associations, A victim of republican attacks. Yeah right.

If you criticize Obama's confusion of facts, the undemocratic base of the media will attack you and accuse you of racism. McCain stated the obvious many times on how Obama has no idea on foreign policy, having visited Iraq once years ago. But the apologist pundits have to jump in to defend their candidate and give him a free pass.

The democrat party is obviously sexist, macho, arrogant, and idiots. Thanks for exposing the reason I did not vote for John Kerry in 2004 or Al Gore in 2000. I knew this crap was coming. And Obama once again has to apologize for someone else.

Posted by: Sick of Obama | June 30, 2008 3:16 PM

Pot/Kettle v 2.0...

Obama has never run his campaign on the themes of executive responsibility, that would be McCain, Giuliani, and Romney of whom you are speaking about.

Secondly Wesley Clark is ardent Clinton supporter who appeared on FACE THE NATION still in the Hillary Clinton supporter role not in the defend Obama role.

Posted by: Obama-Junkie | June 30, 2008 3:15 PM

My post below was directed at 1971-2008.

Posted by: Gobama | June 30, 2008 3:09 PM

AusTex,

New Politics must equal old politics. Or at least what he learned in Chicago.

Pot/Kettle v 2.0,
Explain to me how pointing out the truth about John McCain running on experience he doesn't have is "old" or "Chicago" politics? Ohh wait you can't. Just repeat "old" "Chicago", maybe throw in a nobama or a Hussein. For someone of your intellect, John McCain is definitely the right kind of leader.

I guess strength in leadership means cry baby McCain whining it up to his base the media, to defend him from every criticism.

Posted by: AusTex | June 30, 2008 3:09 PM

You did nothing to refute my assertion that you are a racist, therefore it stands and you concede that you are one. In this campaign the racists are coming out of the closet in their refusal to support Obama.
You are the typical product of neo-con manipulation. And yes, I do understand that our army is a "volunteer" one. But you have to admit that the Bush administration has been offering outrageous military bonuses for young white men to go to Iraq and kill innocents. If you tack on the bonuses to hazard pay and base pay, these folk are making a ridiculous amount for what would essentially be in the United States, murder.
Its no wonder that we are so hypocritical. Our nation is based on hypocrisy. While white men are paid to murder non-whites in Iraq, young black men are dying in the streets and are infected with AIDS. Those are the real heroes.
McCain does not know whats its like to be black in America. Obama has had that experience and I would vote for him any day over a tired old racist white man.
America is changing and we don't need McCain's politics of the past.
Go ahead and be said. The world is changing, and white men don't rule it anymore. Good riddance.

Posted by: Gobama | June 30, 2008 3:08 PM

AusTex,

New Politics must equal old politics. Or at least what he learned in Chicago.

Posted by: Pot/Kettle v 2.0 | June 30, 2008 3:02 PM

To be fair - Wes Clark was not putting his own name forward for VP. But if this gaff was not enough to turn you away from him as a potential choice, consider his actions in Kosovo during the NATO mission there, when he was the man in charge of NATO.

General Clark almost began WW3 with Russia, fighting over an airport, according to most accounts. He was asked to resign early by Defense Secretary Bill Cohen because of the diplomatic mess he caused in a peacekeeping mission.

His prior command experience does not inspire confidence, neither did his communication skills back when he ran for president or today in this particular gaff (of many).

Posted by: Clark's Military Record | June 30, 2008 2:59 PM

Gobama,

Personally, I'm offended by your remarks that I'm a racist.

And while you do that, you spout racist remarks in your reply.

The military is a volunteer military, and it takes folks from all walks of life. But do so socio-economic reasons, a great many of our soldiers come from small poor areas of the country, or from the inner-city. Since you're posting on here, and you obviously don't know the makeup of who are in our military, how can you call anyone a Hero or not? There are many brave individuals in situations they wouldn't have imagined, yet they handle their duty.

Go look at Sen McCain's record, and check his statements, he's never thrown himself out there as a 'War Hero', and those of us who admire him, admire his duty and honor while a POW, that is inspirational. You'll find many more inspirational tales from the men and women who have served in wartime situations, and you'll note that it all comes down to duty and honor to their country and their comrades.

gobama, you refuse to see what's been said, but instead have made up your mind that Sen. Obama can do no wrong, when in fact, he has done nothing. I'm saddened by this, as I had hoped that he could really be something, but I think he's played his hand too early.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 2:58 PM

And Cue all of St John's defenders, to cry that it is off limits to point out John McCain, is just a media created persona.

Victim In Chief McCain doesn't know anything about the economy, or Iraq, or terrorism, or the middle east. Its completely beyond the pale for anyone remotely associated with Obama to point the farce of McCain's persona out.
Obama is mean playing mean politics, because everyone one knows McCain won't get a single vote unless people think they are voting for his media created persona.

Media Save St. John, All hail the Victim President!

Posted by: AusTex | June 30, 2008 2:53 PM

Nova and 1971-2008,
You are both obviously racists. All the military really is, is government subsidized murder. Bush and a bunch of tired old white men made the foolish decision to invade Iraq. White country boys are over there killing innocent Iraqis for a handsome sum (you wouldn't believe the size of hazard pay and bonuses these days). The term "war hero" is an oxymoron. It's designed by neo-cons to brainwash Americans into thinking that our wars are just.
WAKE-UP PEOPLE. We are the evil empire today.
Instead of saying support our troops, we should support what's right. Stop supporting goverment-sponosored murder.
John McCain's war antics and his parading of his war career makes me sick. What's even sicker is the people who buy into that bs.
The real heroes are young black men who try to make it in a racist America. They face more hardship and danger than any young white boy in Iraq murdering innocents on the government's dollar.
Say no to neo-con manipulation fostered by the likes of the Heritage Foundation and Fox News. McCain represents the worse this country ever was.

Posted by: Gobama | June 30, 2008 2:46 PM

Wesley Clark, despite graduating at the top of his class at West Point, just showed that he isn't perfect.

If that sort of thought leaves his lips again this campaign then he will have shown that he has no common sense.

I don't care if the statement was taken out of context. As a VP candidate anything you say can and will be used against you in politics.

I don't doubt that he has the smarts. That was either a breakdown of mental toughness or common sense.

Either way, it reflects poorly on Clark.

In your private life you can think what you want. I personally think that McCain wasn't qualified to be Admiral in the Navy and that he'd probably be a mediocre President during a time that demands more.

But, on the public stage Clark made a big mistake. He's gotta know better than that.

Posted by: JR, Boston | June 30, 2008 2:46 PM

So when has Obama led anything? When has Obama been responsible for signing legislation? When has he proposed it?

If these are the views Clark holds, then clearly, Clark should be president and we wouldn't be having this election between McCain and Obama, 'cos Clark would be a dictator.

Posted by: 761-091 | June 30, 2008 2:42 PM

Enter Barack Obama using the same kind of politics of old, but worse. He has his henchmen attempt to smear his opponents, while he sits back and says I disagree while in the background, he encourages the smear campaigns.
What has Barack Obama done for this country, absolutely nothing. His brief stint in the Senate mostly consisted of his own selfish ambition of pursuing the presidency. He hardly showed up for his job, and was not present on most important votes.
John McCain has put his life on the line, and holds the nation above himself. This is the kind of leader I want, and America needs. I may disagree with John McCain on some of his policies, but I admire him for telling it like it is, and not doing what will make him popular or elected, but what he sincerely believes is right.
You cannot say the same about Obama. The man is a lie, a farce, and an absolute joke. He has the audacity to promote himself as an agent of change when he represents the most wicked, deceptive politics and the only change he'll live is a hollow America with no change left in its politics.

Posted by: Nova | June 30, 2008 2:40 PM

Um folks.
1. Being an officer means you're taught in how to lead.
2. Yes, based on flying an attack plane 40 years ago does not automatically qualify you for President. But having the training that puts you in that seat and the stresses and grueling activities does lay a solid foundation. You'd think "Being at the pointy end of the sword" should also give some weight to understanding what the President is actually making people do.

Not making the tough calls? How about sitting in the seat of that A-4 over Hanoi with hostile fire, but still managing the fateful decision to head into danger? And once again, one campaign that doesn't have a shred of executive experience really shouldn't be throwing stones at the other.

Posted by: 1971-2008 | June 30, 2008 2:37 PM

Give me a break. How can someone running on Military strength play the victim card so much.

Wes Clark stated the obvious, but the DC pundits have to jump into to defend their candidate.

If you criticize McCains confusion of facts on Iraq, St. Johns base the media will attack you and accuse you of ageism. If you point out that he has no leadership experience in the military, you are attacking his service. No one is allowed to criticize St John, and the media will ignore his every flip flop and explain away his ever gaffe. "he didn't really mean 100 years, you can't repeat that"

It would be nice to have an election where the people decide, and the media doesn't.

McCain wants to be known as a strong leader, then stop running to be our victim in chief.

Posted by: TEXDEM | June 30, 2008 2:33 PM

NOTE THE CONTEXT PLEASE:

CLARK: "He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn''t been there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasnt seen what it's like [when advisors say] do you want to take the risk, what about your reputation, how do we handle it publicly, he hasnt made those calls--

SCHIEFER: Well general, could I just interrupt you?

CLARK: (easily) Sure.

SCHIEFER: (with increasing agitation) I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those experiences either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot down!
(pompous indignation)
I mean...

CLARK: (calmly) I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.

Listen to it. Schiefer is goading. The choice of words is all Schiefer's, and they are hysterical (Clark would never have said "riding in", since McCain was the pilot). I'm diappointed in Eilperin, there's far too much of this sound bite stenography still going around. I have no political side. I do think Schiefer is a stuffed shirt.

Posted by: cw-la | June 30, 2008 2:31 PM

The media is insane; I adore Linda's comments.

Posted by: Whitney | June 30, 2008 2:07 PM

Wes Clark is correct; getting shot down in a plane doesn't give you foreign policy experience and it doesn't make you a National Security guru as Mc Cain's people would like for you to believe. How did John Mccain's POW experience help us during 9/11??

Posted by: Len | June 30, 2008 2:05 PM

It's another quick response from the Obama camp. They're on their game all the time.